What is QWERTY?
The name QWERTY is used to describe a standard English-language keyboard and comes from the first six letters in the top alphabet row of a standard keyboard. BlackBerry devices sold in North America use this familiar layout. BlackBerry business phones also use SureType technology, which combines a QWERTY keyboard with a traditional phone keypad.
Modern computer keyboards include a jumbled arrangement of letters. This arrangement is often referred to as “QWERTY” (pronounced kwer-tee) since that the order of the first six letter keys on the upper-left of the keyboard. QWERTY made its debut in 1872 on a device marketed as a typewriter by inventor Christopher Sholes. Some believe that the arrangement of letters was designed to slow typing speed in the effort to prevent jamming. It is generally believed, however, that the layout was designed to put common letter pairs on opposite sides of the keyboard thereby making typing easier. Alternative layouts have been presented, such as the Dvorak version, but despite claims of superiority, the QWERTY keyboard has survived. At this point, it seems that too many people have learned the layout and are not willing to relearn key locations even if improved efficiency were promised. An interesting note about the QWERTY layout is that all the letters of the word “TYPEWRITER” are on the top row.
